VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans 1949 Pick-up colors

I`ve been asked to try and find out the correct color for one of our members 49 1/2 ton. The cowl tag is missing but he said the original color should be either Cape Maroon or Burgandy something or other? Would it be better to try and get color chips for 1949 or ?

hoppy

There were only two colors in the "red family" available for trucks in 1949. The maroon was Cape Maroon, a non-metalic medium/dark maroon color. Trucks were painted with enamel.
The paint number would have been 234-F. The body stripe would have been Bronze Gold. If a standard cab the wheels would have been black with no stripe. DeLuxe cab had maroon wheels with the gold/bronze stripe.
The other red was just old fashioned red.

Gene--Thanks a million. What would you suggest? Should I try to find a color chip for the Cape Maroon?

hoppy

First check with your local automotive paint dealer. If they don't have the chips or formulas then go to http://www.tcpglobal.com/autocolorlibrary/ . If you don't like their prices (compared to the local guy) then purchase the minimum amount and have someone else mix more. Or you can purchase color chips (listed often on eBay) and then try to have someone match the chip. That assumes that the chip is the actual color and has not changed a few shades during the last 60 years.

My '50 pu is painted Cape Maroon. My paint guy got the paint for my truck through Martin Senour. They were able to computer match the paint using an old car chip. Here's a link to my truck if you'd like to see what the Cape Maroon looks like. http://talk.classicparts.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5385

Ken,

Your '50 sure looks nice. What kind of paint did Martin Senour mix up for you??

Bill.

Thanks Bill! I'm pretty much ignorant when it comes to paint, but the can says "56-1752 Maroon C/F Platinum". It is a basecoat/clearcoat system, but other than that, I'm clueless.

Hi Ken,

That answers my question just fine. Essentially I was just curious. "Basecoat/clearcoat" completely satisfies my curiosity. Thanks.

Bill.

Ken--That is one incredibly nice looking restoration. Love the "Cape Maroon"--Is the stripping on the wheels Gold/Bronze?

hoppy

Thanks Hoppy! The striping on the wheels is 1 Shot lettering enamel "Imitation Gold". Probably not a correct color for a purist, but I liked the way it turned out. The good ol' boy who striped it for me said "It's kinda yeller but I think you'll like it!"

Ken

Chevrolet used the gold/bronze for striping in the '30's, '40's and '50's. I have seen nothing that compares to it at this time. Best described as a dark metallic gold.
Its difficult to tell the true color of the wheel stripes pictured but they do look good.

Ya, the whole truck looks great!!! Fantastic! Cool!